‘Bariatric Surgery must be reinstated’ – Gerry Adams TD

Louth Sinn Féin TD Gerry Adams has said that it is disgraceful that lifesaving bariatric operations have been suspended at Dublin’s St Vincent’s Hospital. The Sinn Féin Party President made his comments following a meeting in Dundalk last week with two local women seeking this surgery.

Gerry Adams said,

“I met with Sarah and Margaret and they explained their circumstances to me. In Margaret’s case she had been attending St Vincent’s Hospital for the past number of years and it had been indicated to her that surgery would be performed this coming September.

“She was devastated to learn, via social media, that gastric bypass operations have been suspended indefinitely at St Vincent’s as she has been informed by medical professionals that her life expectancy will be reduced without surgery.”

Deputy Adams continued to say that this is not an issue in County Louth alone and that individuals from across the country had been in contact with his office requesting his intervention on the matter;

“There are currently several hundred people on the waiting list for this surgery with over 1,000 on the waiting list for assessment. Senior obesity specialists have gone so far as to say that people will die if this intervention is denied to them.

“I have written to the Health Minister asking for clarity on the status of gastric bypass operations, whether they will be reinstated and how he intends to deal with the patients currently on the waiting lists for surgery and assessment.

“I urge Minister Varadkar to rethink his predecessor’s drastic decision to stop these operations which have the potential to radically enhance quality of life and in some cases save lives.”